Automatic pick-up device for holding a carrier

ABSTRACT

A pick-up device for or in combination with a carrier which carrier has a handle having a portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. The handle comprises two upwardly extending rods joined by first and second horizontal rods, the first of the rods being in a plane above the second of the rods. The pick-up device is provided with slots for engaging the horizontal rods and lifting the carrier. The slots for engaging the first of the rods having a vertically directed wall which contacts the first rod and opposes the horizontal force applied by the first rod which horizontal force results as a vector component of the gravitational force through the center of gravity of the carrier.

1451 Feb. 18, 1975 ABSTRACT AUTOMATIC PICK-UP DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CARRIER [75] Inventor: Anthony A. Dongelmans, Hacienda Heights, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, New

York, NY.

A pick-up device for or in combination with a carrier which carrier has a handle having a portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. The handle comprises [22] Filed: Jan. 25, 1974 Appl' 436,578 two upwardly extending rods joined by first and second horizontal rods, the first of the rods being in a plane above the second of the rodsv The pick-up de- [52] US. 214/621, 214/89, 198/177 R 51 1m 01 865g 47/02 vice is provided with slots for engaging the horizontal [58] Field of Search............ 198/177 R; 214/89, 621 rods ahd lifting the carrier The Slots for engaging the first of the rods having a vertically directed wall which [56] References Cited contacts the first rod and opposes the horizontal force UNITED STATES PATENTS applied by the first rod which horizontal force results as a vector component of the gravitational force through the center of gravity of the carrier.

3,203,531 Pretot, 198/177 3,797,460 Blankenship,.............,......... 214/621 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerVictor N. Sakran Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael L. Dunn; Jay P. F i d 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures tin PATENTED FEB l 8 I975 SHEET 10F 3 PATENIEDFEBI 8% 5,866,779

sum 2 OF 3 v I I I w I I k I pm PATENTEU FEB] 8 I975 SHEET 30F 3 AUTOMATIC PICK-UP DEVICE FOR HOLDING A CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a carrier pick-up device which may be in combination with a carrier. The pickup device automatically engages the carrier in a locked position preventing the carrier from swinging or becoming disengaged from the pick-up device when the carrier is moved horizontally or vertically by a conveyor.

In the prior art, pick-up devices for carriers or baskets frequently did not lock the carrier or basket in a positive position which prevented swinging of the carrier on the pick-up device or which prevented the carrier from becoming disengaged from the pick-up device during motion of the pick-up device on a conveyor or other transporting means. In addition the prior art carriers frequently had handles located directly above the base of the carrierwhich handles would interfere with processing of articles located in the carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational plan view showing the preferred embodiment of the carrier and pick-up device as incorporated into an apparatus for processing articles held by the carrier.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the carrier engaged in the slots of the pickup device.

FIG. 3 is an end view ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the carrier engaged in the pick-up device wherein the carrier and pick-up device have been lowered into a processing tank.

FIG. 4 is a close-up front elevational view showing the carrier and pick-up device.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the carrier and pick-up device taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing'the handle of the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention an automatic carrier pick-up device is provided which may be in combination with a carrier. The device holds a carrier, comprising a base and a handle, in a locked position preventing the carrier from swinging or swaying during vertical or horizontal movement of the carrier by means of a conveyor. The pick-up device engages the handle of the carrier at a point offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. Engagement of the handle by the pick-up device at a position offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity, and preferably offset from a position vertically above the base, eliminates interference by the handle directly above the effective work area of the base thus permitting articles held by base of the carrier to be more easily processed.

In accordance with this invention a pick-up device is provided for a carrier wherein the carrier comprises a base for holding articles to be carried and an upwardly extending handle attached to the base wherein the handle has an upper portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. The handle for the carrier comprises first and second upwardly extending rods, each having first and second ends. Both of said rods being secured proximate their first ends to the base substantially equidistant from the center of gravity of the carrier. The first and second rods are joined proximate their second ends by a third rod at least a portion of which is in a horizontal position. The first and second rods are additionally joined by a fourth rod spaced from the third rod. At

least a portion of the fourth rod also being in a horizontal position.

The pick-up device for the carrier comprises a carrier arm which includes at least one slot and preferably a. plurality of slots for engaging the third rodand at least one slot and preferably'a plurality of slots for engaging the fourth rod. The slots are defined by front and rear walls, the front wall of each of the slots being the wall closest to the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. The front wall of the slot for contacting the third rod of the carrier has a vertically directed lower portion and an upper portion which is directed upwardly and outwardly toward the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier. The upper portion acts to guide the third rod into the vertically directed lower portion. A horizontal bar is provided which is secured to the carrier arm and is positioned between the first and sec- 0nd rods of the handle and is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the first and second rods of the handle at the vertical position of attachment of the horizontal bar when the third and fourth rods of the handle are engaged in the slots.

The combined carrier and pick-up device further comprises means for vertically raising and lowering the pick-up device so that when the carrier is positioned so the third and fourth rods are vertically above the respective slots for engaging the third and fourth rods, raising the pick-up device causes the third and fourth rods to engage the slots thus lifting the carrier as the pick-up device continues to be vertically raised. The carrier is released from the pick-up device by lowering the pick-up device so that the carrier rests upon a surface. Continued lowering of the pick-up device then causes the slots to become disengaged from the third and fourth rods.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As illustrated by the drawings in the preferred embodiment, the carrier 10 comprises a base 11 to which is attached handle 12. The handle has an upper portion 14 which is offset from the gravitational line of force 16 passing through the center of gravity 18 of carrier 10 and is preferably not vertically above any portion of base 11. This offset permits positive locking of handle 12 into pick-up device 28 and permits free access to carrier 10 without interference by handle 12. In the preferred embodiment handle 12 comprises upwardly extending rods 20 and 22 each of rods 20 and 22 being secured to base 11 at equal distances from center of gravity l8. Rods 20 and 22 are joined at their upper portions by horizontal third rod 24 and fourth rod 26.

A pick-up device 28 comprises a carrier arm 30 including slots 32 for engaging rod 24 and slots 34 for engaging rod 26. Slot 32 is defined by rear wall 31 and front wall 33 and slot 34 is defined by rear wall 35 and front wall 37. As seen in FIG. 9 front wall 33 of slot 32 has a lower vertically directed front wall portion 36 and an outward and upwardly directed upper portion 38.

The outward and upward directed portion 38 is to permit simplified engagement of rod 24 with slot 32 while the lower vertically directed portion is to prevent disengagement of rod 24 with slot 32 when the carrier is being held by the pick-up device. The vertically directed portion 36 provides a directly opposite force against rod 24 to compensate for vector component 40 of gravitational vector 42 as seen in FIG. 8 while vector component 44 assists in holding horizontal rod 26 in slots 34. 7

Horizontal bar 46 is secured to carrier arm 30 and, when the pick-up device functions, locates itself between rods 20 and 22 of handle 12. Horizontal bar 46 is sized so that it is substantially equal to the distance between rods 20 and 22 at the vertical position of attachment of horizontal bar 46 to carrier arm 30 when horizontal rods 24 and 26 are engaged in slots 32 and 34. The pick-up device 28 may be vertically raised and lowered by any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment air cylinders 48 may be actuated to vertically raise and lower pistons 50 to which pick-up device 28 is interconnected. As shown in the drawings, pick-up device 28 is connected to a conveyor 52 operated by motor 54. Conveyor 52 is in turn supported by pistons 50 thus conveyor 52 is raised or lowered by the movement of pistons 50.

In operation the carrier is positioned by means of a positioning block 56, as shown in FIG. 7. Rods 24 and 26 are positioned vertically above slots 32 and 34 respectively. Thus, when pick-up device 28 is vertically lifted, e.g., by means of air cylinders 48, slots 32 and 34 will engage horizontal rods 24 and 26. As pick-up device 28 continues to be vertically raised carrier 10 is lifted by pick-up device 28. Since the upper portion 14 of handle 12 is offset from the center of gravity 18 of carrier 10, the downward force of gravity along line 16 as seen in FIGS. and 8 tends to rotate carrier about rod 26; however, such rotation is prevented by the engagement of horizontal rod 24 against lower vertically directed portions 36 of slots 32. Side motion or rocking of carrier 10 is prevented by contact of horizontal bar 46 with rods and 22. Motor 54 may then be actuated and conveyor 52 horizontally transports pick-up device 28 and engaged carrier 10. Pick-up device 28 and engaged carrier 10 then may be lowered by means of pistons 50 intoa processing stage, e.g. processing tank 60. After removal from tank 60 and upon reaching the proper location, carrier 10 may be disengaged from pick-up device 28 through the lowering of pistons 50 so that base 11 of carrier 10 engages a working surface e.g. surface 58 as seen in FIG. 1. Upon continued downward motion of pick-up device 28, slots 32 and 34 disengage horizontal rods 24 and 26. The carrier may then be removed from surface 58.

I claim:

1. A pick-up device, adapted for raising and lowering a carrier, which carrier includes an upwardly extending handle including an upper portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier which handle comprises first and second upwardly extending rods each having first and second ends and being joined proximate their second ends by a third rod at least a portion of which is in a horizontal position and by a fourth rod spaced from and below the third rod at least a portion of which fourth rod is in a horizontal position. which pick-up device comprises:

a carrier arm including at least one slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier and at least one slot for engaging the fourth rod of the carrier said slots being defined by front and rear walls the front wall of each of said slots being the wall closest to the gravitational line of force passing through the center ofgravity of the carrier, the front wall of the slot for contacting the third rod of the carrier having a vertically directed lower portion for engaging the third rod and an upper portion directed upwardly and outwardly toward said gravitational line of force, which upper portion is adapted to guide the third rod into the vertically directed lower portion; and

a horizontal bar secured to the carrier arm said horizontal bar being adapted to locate between the first and second rods of the handle and being substantially equal to the distance between the first and second rods of the handle at the vertical position of attachment of the horizontal bar when the third and fourth rods of the handle are engaged in the slots.

2. A combined carrier and pick-up device therefore said carrier comprising:

a base for holding articles to be carried; an upwardly extending handle attached to the base said handle having an upper portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of said carrier, said handle comprising first and second upwardly extending rods each of said rods having first and second ends said rods being secured to the base proximatetheir first ends substantially equidistant from the center ofgravity of the carrier, the first and second rods being joined proximate their second ends by a third rod at least a portion of which is in a horizontal position, the first and second rods being additionally joined by a fourth rod spaced from and below the third rod, at least a portion of said fourth rod being in a horizontal position;

said pick-up device comprising:

a carrier arm including at least one slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier and at least one slot for engaging the fourth rod of the carrier said slots being defined by front and rear walls, the front wall of each of said slots being the wall closest to said gravitational line of force, the front wall of the slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier having a vertically directed lower portion for contacting the third rod and an upper portion directed upwardly and outwardly toward said gravitational line of force for guiding the third rod into the vertically directed lower portion;

a horizontal bar secured to the carrier arm, said horizontal bar being positioned between the first and second rods of the handle and being substantially equal to the distance between the first and second rods of the handle at the vertical position of attachment of the horizontal bar when the third and fourth rods are engaged in the slots; and

a means for vertically raising and lowering the pickup device.

3. The combined carrier and pick-up device according to claim 2 wherein the upper portion of the handle is offset from a portion vertically above the base. 

1. A pick-up device, adapted for raising and lowering a carrier, which carrier includes an upwardly extending handle including an upper portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier which handle comprises first and second upwardly extending rods each having first and second ends and being joined proximate their second ends by a third rod at least a portion of which is in a horizontal position and by a fourth rod spaced from and below the third rod at least a portion of which fourth rod is in a horizontal position, which pick-up device comprises: a carrier arm including at least one slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier and at least one slot for engaging the fourth rod of the carrier said slots being defined by front and rear walls the front wall of each of said slots being the wall closest to the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of the carrier, the front wall of the slot for contacting the third rod of the carrier having a vertically diRected lower portion for engaging the third rod and an upper portion directed upwardly and outwardly toward said gravitational line of force, which upper portion is adapted to guide the third rod into the vertically directed lower portion; and a horizontal bar secured to the carrier arm said horizontal bar being adapted to locate between the first and second rods of the handle and being substantially equal to the distance between the first and second rods of the handle at the vertical position of attachment of the horizontal bar when the third and fourth rods of the handle are engaged in the slots.
 2. A combined carrier and pick-up device therefore said carrier comprising: a base for holding articles to be carried; an upwardly extending handle attached to the base said handle having an upper portion offset from the gravitational line of force passing through the center of gravity of said carrier, said handle comprising first and second upwardly extending rods each of said rods having first and second ends said rods being secured to the base proximate their first ends substantially equidistant from the center of gravity of the carrier, the first and second rods being joined proximate their second ends by a third rod at least a portion of which is in a horizontal position, the first and second rods being additionally joined by a fourth rod spaced from and below the third rod, at least a portion of said fourth rod being in a horizontal position; said pick-up device comprising: a carrier arm including at least one slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier and at least one slot for engaging the fourth rod of the carrier said slots being defined by front and rear walls, the front wall of each of said slots being the wall closest to said gravitational line of force, the front wall of the slot for engaging the third rod of the carrier having a vertically directed lower portion for contacting the third rod and an upper portion directed upwardly and outwardly toward said gravitational line of force for guiding the third rod into the vertically directed lower portion; a horizontal bar secured to the carrier arm, said horizontal bar being positioned between the first and second rods of the handle and being substantially equal to the distance between the first and second rods of the handle at the vertical position of attachment of the horizontal bar when the third and fourth rods are engaged in the slots; and a means for vertically raising and lowering the pick-up device.
 3. The combined carrier and pick-up device according to claim 2 wherein the upper portion of the handle is offset from a portion vertically above the base. 